SENATE BILL REPORT
SB 5829
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in
their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a
statement of legislative intent.
As Reported By Senate Committee On:
Economic Development, Trade & Management, February 23, 2007
Title: An act relating to expanding export assistance statewide.
Brief Description: Expanding export assistance to businesses throughout the state.
Sponsors: Senators Kauffman, Kastama, Shin, Kilmer and Rasmussen.
Brief History:
Committee Activity: Economic Development, Trade & Management: 2/16/07, 2/23/07[DPS-WM].
Ways & Means: 2/28/07.
SENATE COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, TRADE & MANAGEMENT
Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5829 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass and be referred to Committee on Ways & Means.Signed by Senators Kastama, Chair; Kilmer, Vice Chair; Zarelli, Ranking Minority Member; Clements, Kauffman and Shin.
Staff: Jacob White (786-7448)
SENATE COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS
Staff: Richard Ramsey (786-7412)
Background: The Department of Community, Trade, and Economic Development (CTED)
delivers a range of economic-development related services from assisting with complex permit
processes to infrastructure and business financing to marketing the state as a desirable place to
live, work, and visit.
CTED supports Washington companies seeking to: increase their export sales; research
international markets; find overseas buyers; understand the best mechanisms to get paid and
mitigate their credit risk; and obtain advocacy assistance. CTED offers information on its website
to assist companies in exporting.
Summary of Bill: CTED must establish partnerships with local organizations, including small
business development centers, associate development organizations, ports, and local
governments.
These new partners will provide seminars and one-on-one counseling to owners and managers
of small and medium-sized companies that have not previously exported, to enable them to:
determine whether exporting is appropriate for them; develop their capacity for exporting; begin
the export process; and more successfully utilize other export assistance available to them.
CTED must hire an outreach coordinator for the new export assistance partners. The
coordinator's duties are to: develop training curricula; provide training to local partners; serve as
liaison with the Seattle, Spokane, and foreign offices; provide information; and coordinate state
outreach with the new foreign assistance partners.
CTED must create a foreign direct investment program. Program staff are responsible for: the
implementation of new investment attraction tools; adapting the ChooseWashington.com website
to meet the needs of foreign investors; and training personnel in state foreign offices in ways to
promote foreign investment in Washington.
EFFECT OF CHANGES MADE BY RECOMMENDED SUBSTITUTE AS PASSED COMMITTEE (Economic Development, Trade & Management): The small business export finance assistance center is to develop a rural manufacturer export outreach program in collaboration with Washington manufacturing services. Seventy-five thousand dollars is appropriate to the business finance assistance center for both fiscal year 2008 and fiscal year 2009.
Appropriation: $150,000 from the state General Fund.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony: None.
Persons Testifying: No one.